Preschool Staff
Our staff makes the difference...
- Our staff is fully qualified, having their Early Childhood certificates and additional education.
- We are dedicated to helping your child learn to love our Lord and each other.
- We truly celebrate the young child.
Introducing our staff...
• Karen Sutherlin is one of the Pre-K teachers; and also serves as the Preschool Assistant Director. Karen has taught at Bethany Lutheran Preschool since 1976. In 2003 Karen was named the Pacific Southwest District Early Childhood Educator of the Year. As any child who has been in Teacher Karen’s class will tell you, she is a wonderful, patient, loving teacher.
• Cookie Krueger has been at Bethany since 1978. Cookie serves as a Teacher’s Assistant. She can be seen scurrying back and forth between the two Pre-K classrooms helping the teachers with whatever is needed at the moment. All of the children dearly love Miss Cookie! Cookie has two grown children and two grandchildren.
• Alicia (Cox) Lagana grew up at Bethany, where she attended both the Pre-school and the Day school. Alicia has been on staff since 1989 and currently serves as teacher of our youngest children. Alicia is kind and loving to every child she meets. Alicia and her husband have two young sons.
• Belinda Padias came to Bethany in 1991, having taught in another pre-school for several years. Belinda usually teaches the older three year olds, but has taught Pre-K when we have a large enrollment in Pre-K. Belinda has a special way of accepting and loving each and every child while helping them to mature and develop. Belinda and her husband have a grown daughter.
• Dorothy Santos joined the Bethany staff in 1999. Dorothy began in Bethany’s Extended Day Care, and then moved to the younger children. Dorothy is an afternoon Teacher’s Assistant. Dorothy is friendly with the parents and loved by the children. Dorothy has three grown children and six grandchildren.
• Donna Forney has been a Teacher’s Assistant at Bethany since 2001. Donna works very hard to give assistance to the two teachers of three year olds. Like all the preschool staff at Bethany, Donna watches to see what is needed, and just goes ahead and pitches in, not waiting to be told what to do. Donna and her husband have two teenage daughters.
• Nola Seaman joined the Bethany staff as Director in 2003. She has been an Early Childhood Administrator for fifteen years and was named the Pacific Southwest District Early Childhood Educator of the Year in 2008. She has two grown sons, and six grandchildren.
• Jean Barton is Bethany’s newest staff member, having joined the staff in 2007. Jean has been a preschool teacher since 1989. We know that God brought her to us, because she has been such a perfect fit with the whole staff. Jean and her husband have a grown son and one grandson.